| | 19TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY TECH OUTLOOKNOVEMBER 2024 escalate, finally improving their overall experience and the hotel's performance.Upgrading to Cloud-Based EfficiencyExpedia is now providing us with valuable customer data, allowing us to access arrival reports that detail special requests and stay patterns. This marks a significant improvement, as we previously lacked this information. With this data, we can better serve third-party customers who may not be brand loyal.Hotel brands are investing in new technologies. Marriott, for instance, is set to launch a new property management system that will replace its current four different platforms. By 2025, they plan to unify these into a single, cloud-based system. This upgrade will enhance staff efficiency with a more modern, tablet-driven interface for guest check-ins, moving away from their outdated analog systems. This transition represents a major advancement for Marriott.Building Your FutureMy advice is to prioritize enhancing team members' communication skills as a key element of effective leadership strategy. We offer training programs designed to help them craft thoughtful responses to guests, especially as younger employees often use a more casual, slang-driven style. Our goal is to elevate their communication to a more professional level.For those looking to advance in the industry, flexibility is crucial. Being open to relocation can significantly expand your opportunities, particularly with larger companies that prioritize internal growth. I recommend seeking organizations that provide advanced training platforms to develop leadership skills.It is important not to rush through tasks just to move on to the next opportunity. I have noticed that some employees jump to new positions after only six months for a marginal pay increase, but this can hinder their career trajectory. Frequent job changes can negatively impact how potential employers view their tenure, making them less attractive candidates. While rapid advancement might seem appealing, it often backfires, as employers typically prefer candidates with a stable, longer-term employment history. Business and leisure travel are merging, with travelers extending their stays for leisure activities. This trend is expected to continue growing, creating new opportunities for hotels to cater to bleisure travelers.Quick Bytes
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